White - Chardonnay

The 2016 vintage officially was the last of the drought vintages that began in 2012. While they were all marked by long hot summers and early harvests, both ’15 and ’16 featured lower yields than the preceding years. The upside to low moderate yields is that the grapes that were there picked up added levels of intensity and depth. This vintage was sourced from a variety of vineyards in the Sonoma Coast. These vineyards tended to deliver fully developed flavors at relatively high natural acidity, giving remarkable length and verve. This wine leans towards orchard fruit showing both apple and pear but also hints of tropical fruits and vanilla bean. In the mouth the wine is moderate weight but packs extraordinary depth of flavor, echoing the aroma with fuji apple, meyer lemon, sage and vanilla panna cotta. The finish is all energy with mouthwatering citrus notes.

The Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 is sourced from sustainably farmed, mostly old-vine, estate and “grower owned” Russian River Valley vineyards. Although this Chardonnay is elegant, it also has a medium to full bodied mid-palate and is partially defined by the crisp acidity and subtle quinine and crystallized ginger notes in the finish.  Gravenstein apple, exotic citrus and floral notes highlight both the aromatic flavor profiles and complement the bright textural elements that make this a delicious Chardonnay!

We believe that the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation in Monterey County is one of the best appellations in the world for producing Chardonnay. This region benefits from cool morning fog and afternoon breezes that result in a long growing season, producing intense fruit flavors balanced with vibrant acidity. Mer Soleil Silver 2016 is a pure, clean expression of estate-grown Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay. A pale yellow hue, the wine is well balanced with great structure. Bright minerality, pink grapefruit and key lime characters shine through on the nose, followed by lemon zest and stone-fruit. The mid-palate displays intriguing notes of lemon meringue, quince and citrus, complemented by a crisp acidity that carries through from start to finish. The ceramic bottle reflects the small cement fermentation vessels that they use to give the wine its fully rounded mouthfeel. The higher acidity in this wine makes it a perfect accompaniment to a wide array of food, particularly salads, grilled seafood, tomato-based dishes and fresh oysters.  

The nose opens with rich aromatics of Meyer lemon, honeydew, butterscotch and honeysuckle, with accents of jasmine, white pepper and fennel pollen. A massive palate consists of ripe white peach and a bold Werther’s Original entry and a layered mid- palate of nectarines, pineapple and honey. A touch of green apple and wet stone culminate in a concise crème brulee finish.